Shutter or door



April 29, 1924. 1,492,420

I H. P. BURKE ET AL SHUTTER OR DOOR Filed March 9, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Henry Penn Burke and Henry M.VeHerlein ATTO NEY April 29, 1924. 1,492,420

. H. P. BURKE ET AL SHUTTER OR DOOR Filed Mafch 9 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR Henry Penn Burke and Hank M.Vefi'erlein BY 34'. I H N ATTORNEY April 29, 1924. 1,492,420

7 H. P. BURKE ET AL SHUTTER OR DOOR Filed March 9, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5.

INVENTOR Henry Perm Burke gnYd Henry M .Ve'Herlein ATTORN EY 0 2 2 9 11 L A T E E K R U B P H April 29 1924.

SHUTTER OR DOOR Filed March 9, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 |1lll| I I I I J l II Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

omrso STATES HENRY PENN BURKE AND HENRY M. VETTERLEIN, Oli PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- 1,492,420 PATENT OFFICE.

VAN IA.

SHUTTER on. noon.

Application filed March 9, 1923. Serial No. 623,868.

, walls of buildings, of that class wherein areemployed a curtain comprising a plurality of connected metal plates which are slidable vertically relatively to each other and which is adapted to be raised from a lowered position in which the plates extend one below another and close an opening to an elevated position in which the curtain is raised from the opening and the plates thereofoccupy positions back of one another, in combination with means to guide the plates of the curtain during the raising and lowering thereof and means operable to raise and lower the curtain.

An object of the invention is toprovide a curtain of novel and efficient construction rovided with improved means for connecting the plates thereof and for supporting them one upon another and for guiding them during their movements relatively to one another; another object isgto provide a novel and eflicient means for raising and lowering the curtain; and a further object is to provide the frame structure in which the curtain is raised and lowered with novel and advantageous means for guiding and stabilizing the plates of the curtain during the raising and lowering thereof and for holding it firmly in position when lowered, such means acting automatically to performits functions during the raisin and lowering of the curtain. With the oregoing and related objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of arts hereinafter described and claimed. 11 the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a structure having an opening therein and provided with a door embo ying our invention for closing the opening, showing the door in the closed position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof, on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the door in the open position.

Figure 4 is .a detail on a larger scale, showingthe end portions of some of the plates of the curtain and adjacent parts.

Figure 5 is a side view of the portion of the curtain or door shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section, on line 66 of Fig. 3 looking upwardly.

Figure 7 is a front view partly broken away of two plates of the curtain or door, showing their relative positions when the door is in the closed position.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the lower plate raised a short distance relatively to the upper plate.

Figure 9 is a side view of the two plates shown in Fig. 8. I

Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showlng the'lower plate of Fig. 9 raised to a higher position.

Referring to the drawings, 7 designates a wall which may form part of building and which forms part of the frame structure for supporting our improved door or shutter and its operating mechanism. The wall 7 is provided with an opening 8 which may constitute adoor or window opening of the building.

A curtain or door 9 is arranged to be lowered from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and'2, to close the opening 8, and to be elevated from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to open the door 9 or clear the opening 8.

The curtain or door 9 comprises a plurality of plates or sections 10 which are slidable vertically relatively to one another. In

the lowered position of the curtain, as shown in Figs. 1' and2, the plates 10 extend below one another and they'are connected at their meeting upper and lower edge portions;

and, in the elevated position of the'curtain, as shown iniFig. 3, the lates 10 are nested together and located bac of one another in a common horizontal plane.

When the lowermost plate 10, shown in Fig. 2 is raised from the position there.

shown to theposition shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter lowered again to the position shown in Fig. 2 by mechanism hereinafter described, it will effect the raising and lowering of the entire curtain, the plates 10 sliding relatively to each other and being supported by each other as will be presently described.

The upper plate 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or the foremost plate 10 shown in Fig. 3 is secured to the wall 7. The bottom edge portion of each plate 10 excepting the lowermost plate of thecurtain, is bent to form a rearwardly and upwardly turned flange or hook 11, and the to edge portion. of each plate 10, excepting t e uppermost plate of the curtain, is bent to form a forwardly and downwardly turned flange or hook 12, for purposes presently appearing.

The end portions of each hook 11 are provided with rearwardly extending pro ections 13 which embrace the'end edge portions of the plate next adjacent thereto and provide the means to slidably connect each plate to the next adjacent plate in a manner to permit them to be raised and lowered relatively to each other.

The hooks 12 do not extend to the ends of the plates 10 and the length thereof is less than the distance between the free ends of the projections 13 at the respective sides of the curtain, so that each hook 12 may occupy a position between the two 13 of the plate 10 directly in rout of it when the curtain is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 3.

-When the curtain is lowered from its elevated position shown in Fig.3 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the plates 10 are held in working relation by the projections 13 through which the lateral edge portions of the plates slide, and the engagement of the hook 12 of each plate which is lowered with the hook 11 of the plate 10 forwardly thereof limits the downward movement of the plate, so that in the lowered position of the curtain, the plates 10 extend below and hang upon one another, as clearly shown in the drawings. v When the curtain is raised to the elevated position shown in Fig. 3, the bottom books 11 on each movable plate 10 above the bottom plate engage the projections 13 of the plate 10 above or forwardly thereof and raise it to and support it in the position shown in Fig. 3; and an angle bar 14 is secured to the lower edge portion of the bottom or rearward plate 10 of the set and its bottom flange extends forwardly and is adapted to engage the bottom of the plate next adjacent thereto for the same purpose. As an additional'means to support the plates 10 one by the other, we provide each plate 10 between the top and bottom plates of the set with vertical bars or plates 15 spaced from the lateral edge ortions thereof and having hooks 16 on t e upper ends thereof which are engaged by the tops of the next adjac nt plates below the hooks,

roj ections I as the plates are raised to shown in Fig. 3.

The curtain 9 is arranged between and protected by lateral guard plates 17 which extend vertically adjacent to the ends of the plates 10 the full length of the curtain when it is in the lowered position. These plates 17 are provided with longitudinal flanges 18 which are secured to the wall 7.

- Arranged upon and secured to the guard plates 17 and to the wall 7 and top plate 10 are brackets 19 carrying bearings in which a horizontal shaft 20 is journaled. The shaft is arranged above the curtain 9 and the position extends parallel to the plates 10 thereof.

One end portion of the shaft 20 is provided with a worm wheel 21 which is engaged bya worm 22 on a shaft 23 extending transversely below the shaft 20 and arranged to turn in bearings on one of the brackets 19. The outer end portion of the shaft 23 carries a grooved chain pulley 24 carrying a. depending, endless chain 25 which is adapted to be operated by hand to turn the wheel 24 and thereby turn the shafts 23 and 20 through the wearing connecting them.

The shaft 20 is provided with two sheaves 26 carrying cables 27 which are adapted to be wound upon and unwound from the sheaves. The cables 27 extend from the sheaves 26 and are connected to the bottom or rearward plate 10 of the curtain whereby, when the chain 25 is operated by hand to turn the sheaves 26 in one direction, the cables 27 will be wound upon the sheaves and the curtain 9 will be elevated from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3; and, when the chain 25 is operated by hand to turn the sheaves 26 in the reverse direction, the cables 27 will be unwound from the sheaves and the cur-- tain 9 will be lowered from the position shown in Fig. 3 tothe position shown in Fig. 2.

To take the supporting strain of the forward plates of the set thereof from the projections 13 and hooks 16 of the plates 10 near the rearward end of the set thereof, when the curtain is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3, we provide one of the plates met or near the central portion of the curtain with upwardly extending straps 28 having eyes on the free ends thereof through which the cables 27 extend, and we provide the cables 27 with collars 29 fixed thereon which are adapted to engage the straps 28 after a number of the plates 10 have been raised and thereafter to take the weight of the remaining plates above and forwardly of the plates provided with the stra s 28.

T e lateral edge portions of the plates of the curtain extend between forward and rearward guide bars 30 and 31, respectively. The forward guide bars 31 are secured to the wall 7 at the sides of the opening 8, and the rearward guide bars 31 are located back of the forward guide bars 30 and between the curtain 9 and flanges 32 projecting from the inner or rearward edge portions of the lateral guard plates 17 hereinbefore referred to.

The rearward guide bars 31 are movable toward and from the forward guide bars 30.

The upper end portion of each guide bar 31 is held in place and guided in its movements toward and from the adjacent forward guide bar 30 by a rod 33 extending through a slot in the bar 31, and also extending between and supported by the wall 7 and the rear ward portion of the bracket 19. The lower end portion of each guide bar 31 is held in place and guided in its movements, toward and from the adjacent forward guide bar 30 by a stud bolt 34 projecting from the adja cent guard plate 17 and through a slot in the guide bar 31 and having a head on the free end thereof between which and the guard plate 17 the bar 31 is confined.

The upper end portion of each guidebar 31 is pressed yieldingly toward the curtain in all positions of the plates 10 thereof by a spring 35 encircling its rod 33 between the bar 31 and the part of the bracket 19 to which the rod 33 is connected; and the lower end portion of each guide bar 31 is pressed yieldingly toward the curtain in all positions of the plates 10 thereof by a spring 36 acting between and against the bar 31 and the flange 32 of the adjacent guard plate 17. The spring 36 encircles and is held in place by a rod or stem-37 projecting fixedly from the lower end portion of the bar 31 and through an opening in the flange 32.

When the curtain is raised and lowered, as hereinbefore described, the side edges or portions thereof are guided and clamped at all times by and between the forward and rearward guide bars 30 and 31. The plates 10 of the curtain are thereby stabilized and held firmly together and the parts thereof are caused to come into proper registry in all positions of the plates during the raising and lowering of the curtain by the constant yielding pressure of the rearward guide bars 31 throughout their entire lengths.

We claim as our invention 1. The combination of a frame structure having an opening therein and having forward guide bars at the sides of the opening,

rearward guide bars back of the forward guide bars and movable toward and from the same, a curtain having its lateral edge portions extending between the forward and rearward guide bars and comprising a plurality of-plates slidable relatively to each other and adapted to be raised, from a low ered position in which the plates extend one below another closing said opening to an elevated position in which the plates are,

located back of one another in a common horizontal plane, means operable to raise and lower the curtain, and yielding means pressing the rearward guide bars toward the forward guide bars and against the curtain.

2. The combination of a frame structure having an opening therein and having forward guide bars at the sides of the opening, rearward guide bars back of the forward guide bars and movable toward and from the same, a curtain having its lateral edge portions extending between the forward and rearward guide bars and comprising a plurality of .plates slidable relatively to each other and adapted to be raised from a lowered position in which the plates extend one below another closing said opening to an elevated position in which the plates are located back of one another in a common horizontal plane, the plates of said curtain having as connecting means at each meeting of the longitudinal edge portions thereof when the curtain is lowered a downwardly turned hook on the upper plate and an up- .wardly turned hook on the lower plate enprising a plurality of plates slidable relatively to each other and adapted to be raised from a lowered position in which the plates extend one below another closing said open- .ing to an elevated position in which the plates are located back of one another in a I common horizontal plane, means operable to raise and lower the curtain, rods associated with the rearward guide bars, and springs encircling said rods and bearing against said structure and said rearward guide bars and pressing the latter toward the forward guide .bars.

, 4. The combination of a frame structure havingan opening therein and having forward guide bars at the sides of the opening. rearward guide bars back of the forward guide bars and movable toward and from "the same, a curtain having its lateral edge portions extending between the forward and rearward guide bars and comprising a plurality of plates slidable relatively to each other and adapted to be raised from a lowered position in which the'plates extend one below another closing said opening to an elevated position in which the plates are located back of one another in a common horiv opera zontal plane, means operable to raise and lower the curtain, means to guide the upper ends of the rearward uide bars, means to guide the lower ends of the rearward guide bars and to limit the movement thereof away from the forward guide bars, springs pressing the upper ends of the rearward guide bars toward the forward guide bars, and springs pressing the lower ends of the rearward guide bars toward the forward guide bars. a

5. The combination of a frame structure having an opening therein, a curtain comprising a plurality of plates slidable relatively to each other and adapted to be raised from a lowered position in which the plates extend below one another and close said opening to an elevated position in which the plates are located back of one another, and means for raising the curtain and comprising a cable attached to the lowermost late when the curtain is down, means hle to raise the cable, a strap extending from a plate above said lowermost plate and having an eye through which the cable extends, and a part carried by the cable and adapted to engage the strap after the cable has raised said lowermost plate a predetermined distance.

6. A curtain comprising a plurality of plates slidable vertically relatively to each other and adapted to be raised from a lowcred position in which the plates extend one below another to an elevated position in which the plates are located back of one another in a common horizontal plane, certain ofsaid plates having forwardly and downwardly turned hooks on the upper portions thereof and rearwardly and upwardly turned hooks on the lower portions thereof and rearwardly turned hooks on the upper portions thereof, the forwardly and downwardly turned hooks being adapted to enter the rearwardly and upwardly turned hooks when the curtain is lowered, and the rearwardly turned hooks .on the upper portions of the plates being adapted to engage the tops of plates next adjacent thereto and thereby support the plates from whichithey extend when the curtain is elevated.

7. A curtain comprising a plurality of plates slidable vertically relatively to each other to permit the curtain tobe raised and lowered, certain plates of the curtain having longitudinally-extending, downwardly turned hooks on the upper portions thereof and longitudinally-extending, upwardl turned hooks on the lower portion thereo the downwardly turned hooks being adapted to hook into the upwardly turned hooks of adjacent plates when the curtain is lowered, and the. end portions of one hook of each of said certain plates having projections thereon which embrace a plate next adjacent thereto, which slidably connect the two plates, and which are arranged to enter and engage a hook of a plate and cause it to support a plate when the curtain is raised.

8. A curtain comprising a plurality of plates slidable vertically relatively to each other to permit the curtain to be raised and lowered, certain plates of the curtain having longitudinally-extending, downwardly turned hooks on the upper portions thereof and longitudinally-extending, upwardly turned hooks on the lower ortion thereof, the downwardly turned hoo s being adapted to hook into the upwardly turned hooks of adjacent plates when the curtain is lowered, the end portions of one hook of each of said certain plates having projections thereon which embrace a plate'next adjacent thereto, which slidably connect the two plates, and which are arranged to enter and engage a hook of a plate and cause it to support a plate when the curtain is raised, and the length of one hook of each of said certain plates being less than the space between the free ends of the (projections of a plate to enter said space uring the raising of the curtain. v

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures hereto.

HENRY PENN BURKE. HENRY M. VETTERLEIN. 

